Architects Across
the World Commit to Net-Zero Energy Buildings

Architects
from across the world unanimously adopted the "2050 Imperative," which commits them to 100% net-zero energy design and construction by then.

Members of the International Union of Architects signed the document at last
week's annual World Congress. Member organizations
represent over 1.3 million architects in 124
countries. This is the first time Architect
Councils from every region of the world signed
a declaration in the organization's 65-year
history.

Initiated
and drafted by Architecture 2030, it flowed
through the American Institute of Architects
and then to the International World Congress.

NYC's
first net-zero energy school:

Net-Zero
Energy School NYC

The 2050
Imperative says:

"Recognizing
the architects' central role in planning and
designing the built environment, and the need
to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050
and provide equal access to shelter, we commit
to promote the following actions"

Engage
in research and set targets to meet the 2050
goal.
Plan and design cities, towns, urban developments
and new buildings to be carbon neutral (net-zero
energy), using no more energy over the course
of a year than they produce, or import from
renewable energy sources.
Renovate and rehabilitate existing cities,
towns, urban redevelopments and buildings to
be carbon neutral while respecting cultural
and heritage values.
In those cases where net-zero isn't feasible
or practical, designs will be extremely efficient
with the abillity to produce or import, all
energy from renewable energy sources in the
future.
Advocate and promote socially responsible architecture
to the community

Architecture
2030, which recently released "Roadmap to Zero Emissions" plans to help member organizations meet the goals.

"We
have made great strides towards a sustainable
built environment, but we still need to advance
the industry to make sustainable design the
de facto standard for all construction projects," says Helene Combs Dreiling, President of American Institute of Architects.

Over the
next 20 years, "an area roughly equal to 60% of the total building stock of the world is projected
to be built and rebuilt in urban areas worldwide,
providing an unprecedented opportunity to set
the global building sector on a path to phase
out carbon emissions by 2050," the document says.

Architects
voted on the 2050 Imperative in advance of
the United Nations Climate Summit in Paris,
France next year. We want to "send a strong message to the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, and to the world, that we
are committed to a truly sustainable and equitable
future."